Wheaton College (IL)

See what students say:

Academics

Wheaton College, "a strong Christian institution," located near Chicago, has become one of the "most prestigious and academically rigorous among Christian colleges in the United States." This liberal arts school, where academics are "integrated with Christian faith," is described by its students as "a loving community of students passionate about pursuing excellence in education and glorifying the kingdom of God." As one student puts it, citing the balance between spiritual and intellectual growth fostered at Wheaton, the school is "about educating the whole person and helping us grow spiritually as we learn about the world around us and prepare to enter the workplace." The professors earn high marks from students, who call their teachers "the greatest strength of the school because they are the ones setting the tone for the entire student body." The school's motto—"For Christ and His Kingdom"—sets the tone for Wheaton's "integration of faith and learning through a liberal arts education." Students praise the small class sizes and the easy accessibility of professors, who are "knowledgeable, dedicated to their disciplines, and most are eager to connect outside the classroom." There are "great opportunities for research and internships" and the close-knit Wheaton alumni network is a boon for students after graduation.

Student Body

Students describe their fellow Wheaties as "a loving community of students passionate about pursuing excellence in education and glorifying the kingdom of God." As one student puts it, "We can be a bit serious-minded as a result, and the social scene certainly isn't priority number one, but there's a tangible love and acceptance of one another throughout campus." Despite that, many students call for an increase in the school's diversity, with more inclusion and acceptance for both racial minorities and LGBT+ students, because while "Wheaton encourages diversity [the school] could definitely use more diversity." Overall, "Students at Wheaton are driven, with a dedication to their studies that is only matched by their dedication to Jesus Christ," and they are "both academically invested and socially active."

Campus Life

The Community Covenant governs much of the social life at Wheaton, forbidding activities like drinking and smoking for undergraduates. Most students are quick to point out that the Covenant is "not a set of rules and regulations. It is a set of guidelines that students agree to adhere to, not made in order to punish wrongful behavior but rather to establish a culture of community in which there is maximum potential for thriving." The emphasis on community is key to the Wheaton philosophy and, when it comes to the Covenant, students say, "It is a commitment to a Christian standard of living, and most students have a positive attitude towards committing ourselves to it." Wheaton has multiple fun yearly traditions, such as the "annual President's Day Ball, which is always hosted in Chicago," "our family weekend Talent Show," and the "Roller Disco roller skating disco dance." On campus, athletics play a key role, with more than 20 sports teams, in addition to student-run clubs and Bible study, a popular activity (there is also Chapel three times a week). Many students take the opportunity to take the 40-minute train ride to nearby Chicago, often an "outlet for a good time."

Students Say

Wheaton's Center for Vocation and Career offers a number of services including one-on-one career counseling, job fairs and networking opportunities, and professional development activities such as resume critique and mock interviews. "Students look constantly toward the future," have "high goals," and are "career-minded," and the school largely satisfies their needs. Students feel that "a Wheaton education reaches beyond the classroom to developing all aspects of the student in preparation for future life and vocation." Similarly, "Wheaton has changed me for the best and has brought me to a point where I feel ready to enter the professional world." Many majors require internships for which students can turn to alumni in the WiN network for networking and leads. Of Wheaton alumni visiting PayScale.com, 62 percent report feeling as though their job has a high level of meaning.

Sustainability

Campus Security Report

The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.

The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: http://ope.ed.gov/security

Faculty and Coach Visits

Class Visits

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays

Available

Arrangements

Contact Admissions Office

Limitations

1-2-night stay

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus

Approximate travel time: 45-55 minutes
Cars leaving the airport exit to the east. Keep in the right lane to turn south on I-294. Stay on I-294 south some distance to I-88, also called the East-West Tollway. On I-88 go west toward Aurora several miles to the Naperville Road exit. Proceed north on Naperville Road past the Danada Shopping Center at Butterfield Road, and continue on to Roosevelt Road. Turn right (east) at Roosevelt Road and get into the left lane immediately for a quick left turn at Washington Street. A few blocks north on Washington, you'll cross the Chicago & Northwestern railroad tracks and approach the intersection of Washington and College at the southwest corner of campus.

Driving Instructions to Campus

East-west I-80/90 becomes I-80/94 as you cross from Indiana into Illinois. Continue on I-80 West to I-355 North. Exit I-355 at Roosevelt Road west (which is a left turn at the bottom of the exit ramp). Stay on Roosevelt through the town of Glen Ellyn; when you get to Wheaton, go past President Street to Washington Street where you'll turn right (north) and go approximately 8 blocks to campus.